Adjustable broiler convection oven

ABSTRACT

A convection flow broiler of open front configuration having an elevator-drawer carrying a food supporting and contacting griddle controllably dipped from horizontal for continuous drainage of greases therefrom, and having fixedly positioned radiant top heat to which the griddle is adjustably positioned, and having bottom heat carried with the said griddle in fixed relation thereto.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to stoves used commercially for broiling meatsand foods that require the application of heat from both above andbelow. That is, meats and foods that are to be broiled both top andbottom. Heretofore, top broilers have been used and the meats or foodsturned over for heat application to both sides. Also, fry plates havebeen used where the meats or foods lie in grease or oil, while broilerheat is applied from above. Stove broilers are usually referred to asovens into which moveable grills support the meats or foods, with topand/or bottom heating elements, and with vertical adjustment of the saidgrills. Characteristically, the meat or food supporting element of thebroiler under consideration is a plate or griddle which is heated frombeneath and which is positionable in spaced relation to radiant heatfrom above. A feature of the cooking method involved is that the meatsor foods are not turned, and that cooking time is minimized with lowtemperature application from both below and above. The meats and foodsdo not steep in their own grease or oils, the plate or griddle beingdisposed to drain off while the meats or foods are simultaneouslybroiled from both top and bottom sides. It is a general object of thisinvention, therefore, to provide a stove for low temperature broilingwhile disposing of fats rendered from the foods being cooked, a methodof cooking which is most healty in every respect, without charing andwith the elimination of grease during the cooking process.

Stove broilers of the type under consideration must be versatile intheir capability to cook (1) meats such as steaks, chops, fish andhamburger; (2) ham and toast; (3) bacon, eggs, omelettes, sausage andbreakfast rolls; (4) grilled cheese sandwiches, french toast, pizza,lobster, spanish dishes; and (5) chicken, biscuits and baked potatoes.The foregoing foods are listed according to their relative proximityrequirements to the radiant top heat and comparable applied bottom heat.Generally, meats except chicken are positioned close to the top heat andcomparable bottom heat applied, and when not using top heat it isdesirable to lower and remove the food from said top heat. With thepresent invention, the top heat is fixedly positioned, while the bottomheat moves with the positionable food supporting plate or griddle. Inpractice, the plate or griddle is carried by an elevator-drawer to beraised and lowered and removable sufficiently from the oven chamber forloading and/or for cooking without top heat. It is an object to provideelevating means to facilitate positioning of the plate or griddle withrespect to its proximity to the top heat; it is another object toprovide drawer means to facilitate withdrawal and insertion of the plateor griddle from and into the oven chamber; and it is also an object toprovide bottom heat moving with the plate or griddle per se to uniformlyheat the same. The energy source for heating can be electrical or gasand preferably the latter as will be described, And, the positioning ofthe plate or griddle provides exposure for loading and unloading, therebeing means to compensate for the weight of food applied so as tomaintain a selected position with assurance.

Heretofore the heat sources of stoves and broilers have been fixed orstatic, not dynamic, it being an object of this invention to provide formovability of a heat source and particularly the bottom heat source.

Heat sources for boiling have relied upon the heat radiating capabilityof the heating element or burner per se, and in some instances uponradiant devices applied thereto such as ceramic radiants applied to gasflames. The said ceramic radiants are heavy and cumbersome, as well asfragile; it being an object of this invention to provide a moreefficient space saving radiant that is durable. With the presentinvention, metalic radiant elements of low mass are disposed in closeproximity to the direction of the gas flame for efficient heatabsorption and radiation.

Low heat cooking is an object of this invention, with gas burnerefficiency of prime concern. The oven chamber is open with the draftupward and inherently beneath the top plate or griddle and toward a rearvent. Characteristically therefore, there are upper and lower griddles,a warmer plate or griddle and a broiler plate or griddle. The former isstationary and heated by the radiants of and by the top burners, and thelatter is dynamic and adapted to be movably positioned as circumstancesrequire. The top griddle is for maintaining the heated condition offoods and for warming, while the lower griddle is primarily for thecooking process.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The stove is shown in its preferred form as a front opening cabinet Cadapted to be leveled in a free standing position spaced a safe distancefrom building structure walls. The sides and back of the cabinet C areinsulated, the front is open, and the bottom comprised of a drip pan P.There are upper and lower griddles G1 and G2, the former griddle G1fixed and substantially coextensive with the top of the cabinet C, andthe latter griddle G2 movable into elevated positions within the cabinetoven chamber. In accordance with this invention, there is anelevator-drawer A that carries the griddle G2, compensating for theweight of the foods supported thereby and movably carrying bottomburners B2 in uniformly close proximity beneath the lower griddle G2.Both the top and bottom burners B1 and B2 are fixedly postioned inuniformly close proximity beneath their respective griddles G1 and G2,there being a flexible gas connector means H supplying the lowermostmovable burners B2. A feature is the radiants R of the top burners B1which overlie the horizontal flame jets thereof to efficiently absorbheat for downward radiation onto the food to be broiled thereby.Simultaneously, the food supporting lower griddle G2 applies bottom heatto the food load without frying as will be described.

DRAWINGS

The various objects and features of this invention will be fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of the typicalpreferred form and application thereof, throughout which descriptionreference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the adjustable broiler convection oven.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view taken as indicated by line 2--2 on FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially as indicated byline 3--3 on FIG. 2 showing the elevator means in elevation.

FIG. 4 is a plan section taken as indicated by line 4--4 on FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of the elevator means in section.

FIG. 6 is an elevational section showing the connector means and takensubstantially as indicated by line 6--6 on FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken as indicated by line7--7 on FIG. 6.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are enlarged detailed sectional views taken as indicatedby lines 8--8 and 9--9 on FIG. 5 and FIG. 10 is an enlarged detailedsectional view of the radiant burner and taken as indicated by line10--10 on FIG. 3.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The adjustable broiler is incorporated in the front opening cabinet Ccomprised of a back panel 10 and parallel side panels 11 provided withfront and rear leveling means 12 such as floor engaging screws. Thepanels 10 and 11 are of double walled sheet metal construction withinsulation therebetween, supported above the floor and having coplanarfront and back top edges 13 and 14 establishing the front opening ovenchamber, and closed at the back by panel 10 and closed at the bottom bythe drip pan P. At an intermediate height there are front and rearheaders 16 and 16' extending between the side panels 11, and supportingspaced tracks 18 extend from the back to the front opening of the ovenchamber. A feature of this invention is the locked-in removability ofthe elevator-drawer A, a feature which involves a slide that capturesrollers 20 operating to carry the said elevator-drawer. As shown, thereis a pair of parallel and opposed channel-shaped ways fixedly supportedby the headers 16 and 16', within which the spaced tracks 18 areremovably carried. The said tracks 18 are integral with and spaced byfront and rear headers 17 and 17', the front header serving as a forwardstop for the rollers 20 and the rear header serving as a back stoptherefor. The top runs of the pair of tracks 18 are notched at 19 andare exposed by withdrawal of the slide to pass the said rollers 20 forupward removal and replacability of the elevator-drawer next to bedescribed. The sliding rails 18 are secured in working position by afastener 19' that is readily accessible for removal, so as to preventover extension of the elevator-drawer that would otherwise over flex theconnector means H.

The elevator-drawer A functions to be loaded with food and to bepositioned with respect to the top heat burners B1, and to carry thebottom heat burners B2. Accordingly, the elevator-drawer A comprises amoveable frame F carried by a carriage D through lift arms E arranged tomaintain a near horizontal disposition of said frame and bottom griddleG2 and burners B2 supported thereby. As shown, the frame F is adapted tobe positioned vertically with respect to the carriage D, while theelevator-drawer A as a unit is adapted to shift horizontally into andout of the oven chamber. The griddle G2 overlies the frame F while theburners B2 underlie the same, there being a gas manifold M2 carried bythe frame in the plane of the burners B2 to supply the same.

The frame F is a rectangular or square member disposed at various levelswithin the oven chamber, preferably a perimeter frame comprised ofspaced and parallel side rails 25 rigidly joined to front and rear crossbeams 26 and 27. The top edges of the side rails 25 are coplanar tosupportably carry the griddle G2, there being notches 28 to positionablyreceive lugs 29 depending from the griddle so as to key the same inworking position upon the frame. Spaced brackets 30 depend from thefront cross beam 26 to carry the manifold M2 and to receive thesupporting lift arms E. A decorative shield 31 is carried in front ofthe frame and equipped with handles 32 for manipulation ofelevator-drawer A into positions as required.

The carriage D is supported by the tracks 18 and moves horizontally uponfront and rear spaced rollers 20. As shown, the carriage D comprises atruck 33 with spaced mounting plates 34 disposed in parallel verticalplanes in alignment with the spaced brackets 30 of the frame F,respectively. The carriage D is relatively short and underlies only therear of the frame F, and in practice is less than half the length of thetracks 18 along which it moves between rearward and forward positionsagainst stops 35 and 36 that limit its normal travel and for protectingthe gas connector means H as will be described. The front stop 36 isremovable for complete withdrawal of the elevator-drawer A, for cleaningand for servicing.

The lift arms E operate between the brackets 30 and mounting plates 34,there being upper and lower arms 37 and 38 extending forwardly andupwardly from the said mounting plates to the said frame brackets. Inaccordance with this invention, the griddle G2 is dipped or pitchedlaterally and/or rearwardly so as to drain off grease and fats andthereby provide contact broiling as distinguished from frying. Incarrying out this invention, there is a permanent lateral dip or pitchto one side of the griddle G2, for example one side of a griddle twofoot square is lowered 3/8 to 3/4 inch as by means of the differentlength of spaced brackets 30, as indicated. A feature that controlsrearward dip or pitch is the trapezoid and more precisely trapeziumconfiguration of the arms and their vertically spaced mounting andsupport pivots 40 and 41 which are more closely spaced at the brackets30 than they are at the mounting plates 34. As a result, thequadrilateral configuration which appears to be a parallegram has no twosides parallel (except perhaps in one position) and for the purpose ofincreasing the rearward dip or pitch and drainage capability of thegriddle G2 the higher it is raised. Furthermore, initial drainage isestablished by length adjustment of the upper arms 37 as circumstancesrequire. In carrying out this invention, the arms are nominally thirteeninches in length, the rear pivots 41 are vertically spaced two inches oncenter, while the front pivots 40 are vertically spaced one and thirtyone thirty-seconds of an inch on center. Accordingly, the griddle G2 hasa "twist" disposition, draining to one side and controllably to the rearof the oven chamber for the discharge of grease and fats into the drippan P. Thus, it will become apparent that the trapezium and controlledrearward dip is unobvious, while extremely effective in the eliminationof fats rendered in the cooking process, whereby frying is eliminatedand replaced by bottom griddle broiling.

The griddle G2 is a flat plate of substantial weight rested by gravityupon the rails 25 above the plane of the bottom burners B2 and thegriddle G2 can have a ribbed surface (not shown) for searing meats withmarks that simulate char boiling. In practice, there is a plurality ofparallel burners B2 extending fore and aft and normal to the manifold M2carried transversely of the frame F by the front beam brackets 30. It isa feature of this invention that the manifold M2 and burners B2 movewith the frame F, the said burners being supported by said manifold andrear beam 27 respectively. As shown, the burners B2 are each of tubeform having an air shutter 42 supported over a nipple 43 projecting fromthe manifold, and a flange 44 engaged over a pin 45 assuring an erectpositioning of the gas jets 46.

The dynamic weight of the elevator-drawer A hereinabove described isbalanced by a compensator means S comprised of a tension spring 47pulling in a controllably shifting alignment disposed substantiallyabove the center of effort a of the aforesaid trapezium configuration ofthe lift arms. Accordingly, the live ends of a pair of tension springs47 are coupled to the trapezium at the top arm 37 or the bracket 30, andthe anchored ends thereof are secured between the pivots 40 and 41 atthe mounting plate 34. The anchor mounting is by means of a transversebar 50 journaled in saddles at the opposite mounting plates and throughwhich screw hooks 51 are adjustably positioned by nuts 52. A feature ofthe said compensator means is the reciprocal increase and decrease inmechanical advantage at opposite ends of the springs 47; for example asthe frame F is raised the leverage is reduced at the bracket end of thearms while it is increased at the mounting plate end of the arms; andreversely as the frame F is lowered the leverage is increased at thebracket end of the arm while it is decreased at the mounting end of thearm. Consequently, the lifting action is nominally the same regardlessof elevation; and to the end that a detent positioning means K iseffective to maintain a selected position. As shown, the lower arms 38carry a spring biased detent 48 engageable with incremental depressions49 in the plate corresponding to the aforementioned proximityrequirements (1-5).

In accordance with this invention the flexible gas connector H isprovided to conduct gas to the moveable burners B2, and to this endcomprises a flexible hose 55 coupled between the manifold M2 and theoutput connection of a gas supply valve 56. Flexible hose for theservice involved is metallic with limited flexibility, such as forexample a bellows type hose with a protective brade, simple bendingthereof being feasible. Accordingly, the hose 55 is rolled or turnedinto a simple 180° loop X with opposite ends Y and Z disposed inparallel relation and in a plane adjacent one side panel 11 of thecabinet C. As shown, the manifold M2 and valve 56 are coaxially coupledto the ends Y and Z respectively, as by means of threaded unions 58 orthe like, and to the end that the end Y is free to move with theelevator-drawer A while the end Z remains stationary with the supplyvalve 56. In practice, the supply valve 56 at the stationary end Z isaccessible at a front panel of the base of the cabinet C, while themoveable manifold end Y is coupled through a thermostat control 57carried by and accessible at the front of the shield 31.

A feature of this adjustable broiler is the top heat comprised of theburner B1 and the manifold M1 therefor, there being metallic radiants Rof low mass disposed to be heated by the lateral jets of flame emittingfrom the burners B1. In practice, there is a plurality of parallelburners B1 extending fore and aft and normal to the manifold M1 carriedtransversely of the cabinet C between the side panels 11. The burners B1are stationary, having air shutters 60 supported over a nipple 61projecting from the manifold, and a flange 62 engaged over a pin 63,assuring a horizontal positioning of the gas jets 64 that emanate atopposite sides of the burner tube substantially coextensive therewith.As shown, the radiants R comprise plates of non corrosive steel or thelike extending parallel at each side of the burner tube and each in aplane disposed with and above the flame jet from which heat is absorbed.At or near the tip of the flame jet, the radiant R is upturned forrigidity and to direct the flame tip upwardly. Thus, the radiants R areprovided in pairs that embrace each manifold tube, there being a yolk 65joining the opposite ends of the radiants to carry them on the manifoldtube and located thereon by pins 66 engaged through said yolks.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a stove oven forradiant top broiling and bottom griddle broiling, featuring a frontopening oven chamber for convection air flow. In practice, the rearedges of the top griddle G1 is spaced substantially forward of the rearpanel 10 for venting all hot gases, while the entire front area of theoven chamber is open for induction of clean air over the foods beingbroiled. As shown, there is ample ventilation around the entireelevator-drawer A and bottom contact griddle G2 for the naturalconvection flow of air above and below said griddle and rearwardly andupwardly through the chamber and out the flue area. The importance ofleveling the stove cabinet C will be apparent when considering theeffect of the permanent and controlled dip or pitch of the griddle G2,and all to the end that low heat top and bottom broiling becomesfeasible in a convection flow oven that remains open for observation ofthe cooking process and for facility of loading and unloading the foodstherefrom. The various weights of foods are readily compensated for andselected broiling positions maintained with assurance. And, all stoveparts and elements are readily accessible and/or removable for cleaningand servicing with facility.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of myinvention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specificdetails herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself anymodifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art.

I claim:
 1. An adjustable broiler stove including, a cabinet of panelsforming an oven chamber, radiant heat means disposed horizontally withinthe top of the oven chamber, a food supporting and contacting griddleand underlying heat means moveable within the oven chamber, and elevatormeans comprised of upper and lower lift arms arranged in trapeziumformation swinging from spaced pivots carried by the cabinet andextending to spaced pivots carrying the griddle and heat means, the lastmentioned pivots being more closely spaced than the first mentionedpivots whereby the said griddle is increasingly displaced fromhorizontal as it is raised in selectively positioning the said griddlein spaced relation to said radiant heat means.
 2. The adjustable broilerstove as set forth in claim 1 wherein the upper and lower lift armsswing from vertically spaced pivots carried by the cabinet and extend tovertically spaced pivots carrying the griddle.
 3. The adjustable broilerstove as set forth in claim 1 wherein the upper and lower lift armsswing from spaced transversely disposed pivots carried at the rear ofthe cabinet and extend forwardly to spaced transversely disposed pivotscarrying the griddle.
 4. The adjustable broiler stove as set forth inclaim 1 wherein the upper and lower lift arms swing from verticallyspaced transversely disposed pivots carried at the rear of the cabinetand extend forwardly to vertically spaced transversely diposed pivotscarrying the griddle.
 5. An adjustable broiler stove including, acabinet of back and side panels forming a front opening oven chamber,radiant heat means disposed horizontally within the top of the ovenchamber, a food supporting and contacting griddle and underlying bottomheat means moveable into and within the oven chamber, andelevator-drawer means carrying said griddle and bottom heat means andselectively entering and positioning the said griddle and bottom heatmeans in the oven chamber and in spaced relation to said radiant heatmeans, the elevator-drawer means comprising a carriage underlying a rearposition of the griddle and bottom heat means at the back of the cabinetand moveable on tracks extending from the back of the cabinet to thefront opening thereof, and upper and lower lift arms arranged intrapezium formation swinging from spaced transversely disposed pivotscarried by the carriage and extending forwardly to spaced transverselydisposed pivots carrying the griddle and bottom heat means, the lastmentioned pivots being more closely spaced than the first mentionedpivots whereby the said griddle is increasingly displaced fromhorizontal as it is raised.
 6. The adjustable broiler stove as set forthin claim 5, wherein both the transversely disposed pivots carried by thecarriage and carrying the griddle and bottom heat means are verticallyspaced.